Myocardial protection in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery using minimized extracorporeal circulation in combination with volatile anesthetic.

The minimized extracorporeal circulation (ECC) is a safe alternative for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and allows a reduction of the negative effects associated with conventional extracorporeal circulation. Experimental and clinical data indicate that the anesthetic regime might influence the ischemia-reperfusion injury in CABG surgery. The aim of our retrospective study was to investigate the cardioprotective effects of two different minimized ECC systems in combination with two different anesthetic concepts and to determine the impact on oxygen consumption during aortic cross-clamping (ACC). Data of 1,182 patients who underwent elective isolated CABG with minimized ECC from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2008, were enrolled in a retrospective manner. Patients were allocated either to sevoflurane-based volatile anesthesia using PRECiSe system (SEVO group) or to propofol-based intravenous anesthesia using MECC system (PROP group). Postoperatively, the SEVO group showed lower concentrations of myocardial fraction of creatine kinase compared with the PROP group (p < 0.001). During the period of ACC, the values of systemic vascular resistance (SVR) were higher in SEVO group (p < 0.005). Also, the SEVO group showed lower oxygen consumption at each time point ACC (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, PRECiSe system using a microporous capillary oxygenator in combination with sevoflurane-based volatile anesthetic regimen seem to provide lower postoperative myocardial cell damage and to allow improved perfusion with higher SVRs and lower oxygen consumption during ACC.